West Seattle wildlife: 2 more coyote sightings

Many of the coyote reports we’ve received (all of which are archived here) describe them as being in the street – or a greenspace. Here, however, we have two who are closer to home, so to speak, or should we say homes. Read on:

This one came in late Thursday night from Marty on Pigeon Point:

So, I just got home and saw my neighbor looking for one of his cats in the dark (11 pm). He said his wife saw a coyote sitting in their driveway on 19th Ave SW between Genessee and Dakota, near the green belt heading down to the Duwamish.

Again, the coyote was sitting in the driveway, seemingly unaffected by the human/vehicle presence. Pretty brave. I hope they find the cat.

Then this one came in today, from Tom in the Genesee Hill area:

Just thought I’d provide another coyote sighting. This morning at about 7:45 AM my mother saw a coyote walking down the sidewalk on the 40XX block of 52nd Ave, SW (between Dakota and Andover).

If you see one – don’t gawk – scare it away. More advice in this document from the state Fish/Wildlife Department.

49 Replies to "West Seattle wildlife: 2 more coyote sightings"

  • Mike October 8, 2011 (7:21 am)

    Clap hands, wave big arms, yell, run at it, drive at it. Basically act like you’re insane. Don’t leave pet food out, cover your yard waste bins tight, don’t leave pets outside.
    .
    The problem is not coyotes, the problem is humans making it too easy for them to get food here.

  • boy October 8, 2011 (11:44 am)

    No the problem is the coyotes. Also its the people with we must coxsit with the coyote clubs fault. This ares is man natural habitat. not the coyotes. And if you drive your car at it, try to hit it. We need a bounty on them before this gets out of control. As there population grows compotion for food will grow. thus making them more dangorous.

  • bridge to somewhere October 8, 2011 (12:07 pm)

    Outdoor cats are a big pain anyway. This is nature’s way of dealing with them.

  • Alkira October 8, 2011 (12:58 pm)

    This the coyotes’ natural habitat.

    For your own safety, do not try to hit a coyote with your car.

  • JoAnne October 8, 2011 (4:02 pm)

    No Seattle is not the coyote’s natural habitat.
    It became coyote habitat long after it was urbanized. There has been a huge expansion in coyote territory nationwide.

  • Resident October 8, 2011 (5:16 pm)

    Boy–how old are you? I can’t understand what you are writing especially your 2nd sentence. I think you ought to think about not running them over if you get the chance–probably not the smartest idea.

    Coyotes are smart resourceful animals just like crows and raccoons. They have figured out how to adapt in the city and the reason they figure it out is that there is easy food for them to get at including our pets.

    For our family–the raccoons have been a much bigger nuisance than coyotes. They are all over w seattle. They attacked our cat a few years ago and broke his tail and it had to be amputated. He barely made it.

    I play W. seattle golf course and coyotes are often on the course and I’ve seen them chasing squirrels. The course used to have resident foxes (west seattle gc logo is a fox)…and the foxes are no longer around. Never seen them as bold as raccoons though.

    As angry as I was about the raccoons hurting my cat I bought a bb gun and have had many opportunities to shoot them (I know this is illegal) and haven’t been able to pull the trigger. They are just trying to live too…so even though I want them to disappear–shooting them has moral complications for me.

  • miws October 8, 2011 (10:21 pm)

    boy my head hurts…

    .

    Mike

  • datamuse October 9, 2011 (4:00 pm)

    I see raccoons much more often than coyotes, and in larger numbers, too. There’s a big, healthy family of them living in Westcrest Park that I’ve encountered several times.
    .
    Today marked my first coyote sighting in the daytime, on Trenton near 16th. I was going at a good clip on my bike and he ran away as soon as he saw me. Good for him.

  • Alison October 9, 2011 (4:13 pm)

    How dare that nature just run wild! We must put a stop to any nature encroaching on our land… that we own. They don’t pay the mortgage and should be respectful of that. Oh except them cute litl’ol squirrels. Oh and that cute owl. Sounds real purdy at night. Them can stay.
    Good thing we ain’t got them there Honey Badgers.

    Come on…

  • datamuse October 9, 2011 (4:58 pm)

    I hear Honey Badger don’t care… ;)

  • Delridge Resident October 9, 2011 (9:06 pm)

    Love it Alison!
    If you want to keep your cat safe, keep them inside. The average indoor cat’s life is 12 years or more, average outdoor cat’s is less than 5.

  • JC October 10, 2011 (2:07 am)

    I would love to see an indoor soccer field and hockey. No more standing out in the rain during the winter months. Recreational skating and hockey would be fun. Build on top of this and have your theatres and restaurants!W.Seattle has sooo many soccer kids, I’m sure it would always be rented out!

  • datamuse October 10, 2011 (6:36 am)

    There’s an indoor sports field along 99, just south of Spokane St…

  • Neal Chism October 10, 2011 (9:39 am)

    The issue is that there is no other predator here that will limit the number of coyotes. As the coyote population increases, the smaller animals will disappear. (What happened to all the foxes over by the golf course?) In 3-5 years we will have a mono-crop of apex predators, the coyotes, and a mono-crop of prey, probably rodents. The live and let live option, doing nothing about the coyotes will result in a big decline of all the other overly cute furry little animals and song birds.

  • Alison October 10, 2011 (12:07 pm)

    Agree that maintaining a ” reasonable” population in an urban setting is necessary to coexist. It’s how we go about it that triggers my sarcasm. Hitting with a car… Shooting it to have it hobble off to possibly die days later is completely irresponsible and cruel (IMHO).
    Relocating is actually inexpensive. Spay/neuter is more expensive but effective. We are the only custodians our little furry friends and foes have. That’s a thought out process; not a knee jerk reaction to simply eradicate a problem.

  • Nulu October 10, 2011 (12:43 pm)

    Dogs are the biggest killer of outdoor cats.

    Outdoor cats (truly indefensible of cat owners) are the biggest killer of song birds.

    Overly cute eastern grey squirrels that we see everywhere are not indigenous. These bushy tailed rodents have displaced the chipmunks and other natives. Let the coyotes eat their fill on these little monsters that King County warns people not to feed or harbor as they are no worse than rats.

  • Neal Chism October 10, 2011 (12:44 pm)

    Hitting them with our cars is not an adult or serious comment.
    .
    Shooting animals in the city is illegal, except if the DFW or police do it, as they are trained for this. And I am all for relocation, or any other option, yes killing them too.
    .
    The problem is that, like thinning Canada geese numbers, or reducing seal lion numbers, it is such a hot potato topic right now that Wa. DFW will not deal with this situation in West Seattle until a human gets harmed. And that delay will cause much more harm to so many more animals. So which is more cruel, being proactive, or ignoring the issue?
    .
    Later on you will also start seeing starving coyotes reports when the food supply dwindles too. Which is more cruel?
    .
    What I would like to see is a serious look at the problem by the DFW, or any government agency for that matter, a wildlife expert maybe… now and not later.
    .

  • Neal Chism October 10, 2011 (1:38 pm)

    “Outdoor cats (truly indefensible of cat owners) are the biggest killer of song birds.”
    .
    Nulu is back!
    .
    You didn’t look up “Rat Is. Alaska”, did you?
    .
    One more time, if we rid of all the cats then the rodent population will swell. And those rats and mice will be going after ALL the bird eggs up in the nests, not just your song birds. (A rodent population increase is probably going to happen anyway, especially now that we can have 8 instead of 3 chickens in every coop and so more chicken feed on the ground for the rodents to get at.)
    .
    Cats are the major killer of song birds because that is the single simple statistical number your mind has latched on to. It was probably produced by a bird organization that wants you to donate money. So stand up on your chair and shout as loud as you can the following; “100 percent of the voters in the last election for the President were humans!”. That number, like your number, is correct but really doesn’t tell us much, nor give any deep insight.
    .
    The situation here really is more complex than a single number view of it.
    .
    The issue is Coyotes in a small confined urban environment and the effects they will have on all of our animals.
    .
    (And I think you meant to say squirrels are no better than rats.)

  • Nulu October 10, 2011 (2:04 pm)

    As DFW will tell him, Neal will have to wait a very long time for a human to be physically harmed by a coyote. It rarely occurs. More humans are harmed by cats.

    But I agree with outdoor cat activist Neal on one point, he should speak with the DWF to determine just if there is any problem.

    Coyotes have been in our area far longer than domestic cats and DWF will likely tell Mr. Chism to keep his cats indoors for their safety and the safety of the other animals that live outdoors.

  • Neal Chism October 10, 2011 (3:36 pm)

    .
    There won’t be any many little animals left outside because the numbers of coyotes will increase exponentially until there is no more food left, except probably for the rodents, rodents breed faster than most other animals. That’s how the predator-prey math works. Indigenous or non-indigenous, it won’t matter.
    .
    And I already talked to DFW, as did this blogs’ editor, and got about the same response as Tracy did.
    .
    So if you care about your “indigenous” animals still living here then you should be much more worried about the coyote numbers than these cats that you seem to hate so much.
    .
    Those cats are actually helping your song bird population to stay in existence by keeping the rat population in check. But you just won’t believe that fact because it is too complicated.
    .

  • Nulu October 10, 2011 (8:57 pm)

    Well I guess the info that Neal (and Tracy) got from
    DFW is that they, “will not deal with this situation in West Seattle until a human gets harmed.”

    A novel response.

    Apparently there is a vast conspiracy of the city, county and state on the issue of outdoor cats. Maybe they are breeding coyotes to control the cat/rat problem in our city?

  • datamuse October 11, 2011 (9:14 am)

    On my bike ride on Sunday I saw both a coyote and a loose dog. Guess which one made me more nervous? (Hint: the coyote ran away as soon as it saw me.)

  • Neal Chism October 12, 2011 (9:31 am)

    I would not assume Nulu’s resistance to dealing with tough issues is a conspiracy.
    .
    No, having a conspiracy would mean that somebody would have had to actually expended some energy and do some critical thinking about the situation first.
    .
    Sort of like when I had to make Nulu think last year when I pointed out that there really was no leash law for cats, and I actually was not a criminal for letting my cats go outside
    as Nulu suggested I was.
    .
    But keep slinging the mud and insults and go on ignoring this issue. It’s only been a year and a half.
    .
    More delays=more coyotes=more dead animals.
    .
    And what ever happened to the foxes over at the golf course, did they pack their little bags and leave in a sad little single file line for Burien when the mean old coyotes came in and explained to them that they were more indigenous then the foxes were and told them to get out? Could make a great new heart rending Walt Disney animal cartoon movie!
    .
    Still have not figured out why there is no leash law for cats yet either, have you?

  • Nulu October 12, 2011 (9:50 am)

    From the Washington State DWF website,
    “In pioneer days, coyotes (Canis latrans) were restricted primarily to the sagebrush lands, brushy mountains, and open prairies of the American West. Wolves occupied the forests. Coyotes have since taken advantage of human activities (including the reduction of gray wolf populations) to expand their range throughout North and Central America.”

    Also from DWF,
    “Coyotes are opportunists, both as hunters and as scavengers. They eat any small animal they can capture, including mice, rats, gophers, mountain beavers, rabbits, and squirrels, also snakes, lizards, frogs, fish, birds, and carrion (animal carcasses). Grass, fruits, and berries are eaten during summer and fall.”

    And finally, with some amusement, from DWF website,
    “Note: The list of killers of domestic cats and dogs includes other dogs and cats, vehicles, bears, cougars, bobcats, foxes, disease, and furious neighbors.”

    This DWF information contradicts Mr. Chism’s (above) imaginative and unique treatise on how outdoor cats are saving songbirds.

    I am not a cat hater, dog hater or coyote hater,
    nor am I a “birder” as Mr. Chism implies.
    I am for responsible pet ownership and co-existence with wildlife.

    Can’t we all just be responsible and get along?

  • Neal Chism October 12, 2011 (12:15 pm)

    Thanks for the info Nulu. I am not a coyote hater either.
    .
    You didn’t help this conversation along any by calling me a criminal last year, nor when you use the words like; “truly indefensible of cat owners”.
    .
    What I heard you say last year was that you accidentally hit a cat with your car and it upset you. A sad accident that could happen to any of us. Then I heard you say that you were upset because a cat walked through your backyard one time. The the “song bird” party line is new as of this week. Your story is changing. So it looks like you are trying to pick bits of information that will sell your case for me to keep my cats inside. I am not going to do this as my 8 year old has been going in and out since kitten-hood and it would be more cruel for me to lock the animal up now than to let him go out and survive with the rest of the wildlife. And I really have accepted the fact, and really think it will happen, that both of our cats will be eaten by coyotes in the months to come.
    .
    Also, the fact is that it is legal to have cats outside off leash. My cats are up to date on shots, micro-chipped and well fed. But the way you present your case is that I am not a responsible pet owner, and ergo I am not for co-existence with any other wildlife. So my natural response to you that I have to fight off every time you show up is; screw you and the indigenous horse you rode in on. But I will be nice.
    .
    We really had a good balance of wildlife here in West Seattle for a very long time. Coyotes are moving in. These are apex predators. You don’t have to believe me, but the new coyotes are going to impact the balance of wildlife here in a big way. I think it has already started. (Per your info from DFW; “They eat any small animal they can capture,”.)
    .
    I also have been an engineer for a very long time and understand the math behind the predator prey models, it is complicated stuff, and one small change can cause complicated systems to go badly off in unintended directions. The coyotes and the silly sounding fact that there is all the new chicken feed being left out are two huge changes to this small little wildlife system we have here in West Seattle.
    .
    So it turns out that I really am for coexistence and having little furry animals everywhere, indigenous or not. But the sad truth of the matter is that the coyotes are not. They will slowly wipe all the smaller creatures out, working their way down the ladder till we are really left with the rodents. You won’t see this going on, it will all be happening at 3:00 in the morning, but one day we will all start noticing that things are very different. Much like the short comment about the foxes over at the golf course. NO balance, NO coexistence. The foxes won’t be back. That is what we are deciding on. Not about all the great information that the DFW gives out. West Seattle needs to decide whether we want the balance we sort of have right now, a good mix of mid sized animals, or the carthaginic peace the new coyotes will bring.
    .
    One last time about the cats and birds. Cats may eat a lot of birds, but they do not eat all of the birds. Your presentation of the statistic is just plain misleading. And rodent population explosions have happened in the past, they happened often, and they have happened right here in Seattle. Last time it happened in Seattle is when a flu virus came in and wiped out a lot of the cats. It was in the 1930’s depression era. When an area has a rodent population explosion, the birds suffer greatly, like get wiped out. I will speak for the pet cats and say that since these cats are well fed (with purina chow), they usually only go after the injured, young, or sick birds that end up down at ground level. But the percentage of prey that the pet cats go after is largely mice and rats. (Three mice, one rat, one possum in the last two days alone by my EXPERT mouser. No birds, and the possum was uninjured so we turned him around and it scampered out the backdoor.) The feral cats are a different issue. That is why we (the city) try and round up the feral cats and dogs too. The feral cats and dogs are not allowed. But all this summer it has been all rats and mice nearly every night, which is a big change from the last twenty years that I have lived here.
    .
    So I ask you again to look and study the wikipedia entry to see a case where rats are accidently introduced into a small area, an island, and almost always the prey goes to zero. In this case it is birds. The place is called Rat Island, Alaska. It is really messed up right now and I don’t know how much money the state of Alaska is spending get things back to a state of “coexistence”.
    .
    And if I wanted to be acidic, the next thing I would say would be; Look at coyote in the Wikipedia website, and you will see that coyotes live longer in captivity rather than out roaming about. No one here has suggested that we round up all the new coyotes into an area to keep them safe so that they can live longer happier lives, however I get drilled about my cats who really do keep a lid on the rodent population. The city dwelling humans have been keeping dogs around for personal protection and cats around for rodent control for thousands of years, it is one of the few systems in a city that seem to work.
    .
    But it is the the coyotes that are the issue. And doing something about them is a hard decision to make. I am is conflicted as anyone about it, but doing nothing is the poorer choice here. Not just for my house cats, but for all the others animals that we still have left.
    .

  • Nulu October 12, 2011 (10:02 pm)

    Neal Chism,
    “I am not going to do this as my 8 year old has been going in and out since kitten-hood and it would be more cruel for me to lock the animal up now than to let him go out and survive with the rest of the wildlife. And I really have accepted the fact, and really think it will happen, that both of our cats will be eaten by coyotes in the months to come.”

    Neal is telling us that by allowing his kittens to be outdoors, they have become outdoor cats. And that it would be more cruel to keep them in for their own safety, than to let them out where he accepts that they will die a horrible death or maiming in the coming months.

    What an incredible “Sophie’s Choice” he has engineered. That is the part that is “truly indefensible.”

    I just hope nobody applies his logic to children!

    Neal is partly correct about the legality of cats outdoors, that is they are allowed outdoors on one’s own property and without a leash no less!

    But he is wrong when he allows his cats to leave his yard to trespass and do damage on others private property.
    That is against the law and to act against the law is defined as a crime and the one who commits the crime is a criminal. These are definitions.


    I quite enjoy this discussion and am thoughtful to stay within the guidelines of WSB – criticize the action, not the person.

    I have also been consistent in maintaining that pets should be owned with responsibility and respect for life. With cats that responsibility, according to virtually all sources whether governmental, the Humane Society, the vet, cat shelters (everyone but Neal Chism) is to keep your cats indoors. They all say the same thing that cats live longer healthier happier lives without harming wildlife or other’s property.

    Finally, I have great respect for engineers. I was raised by a lifetime Boeing Structural Engineer. And I respect Neal for the profession he is in.

    His novel and unique engineering prediction of Seattle as “Rat Island” in three to five years may prove true. But it appears that he forgot to include coyotes in the equation. In one argument he predicts the coyotes will be starving, while also predicting that we will need more outdoor cats to eradicate the plague of rats. Did he forget that coyotes eat rats? Vector control would get a chuckle out of this theory and the citation of the 1930’s.

    Either Neal Chism is right and virtually all the scientists, experts and professionals are wrong.

    All we have to do is wait the three to five years. At this rate I will still enjoy discussing this issue in WSB with Mr. Chism all the while avoiding nastiness or name calling.

    If Neal’s predictions prove correct, I pledge to buy him and his cats 50 lbs. of his choice of cat food or contribute $50 to his choice of cat shelters or spaying services.

  • Neal Chism October 13, 2011 (10:25 am)

    You don’t have to pledge to buy me anything Nulu. Thanks for the offer. And you can contribute to an animal shelter anytime.
    .
    Your story has changed. This week your a super defender of song birds using a misleading statistical number which I addressed several times in this string of comments. What are you gonna be for next time? And I am still not sure you are for all song birds or just the indigenous ones. You haven’t said. Same with the coyotes. We know you don’t like the nasty old squirrels.

    Looks like you have not looked at the plots of animal numbers for a typical predator-prey system. I’ll even give you the link again too; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotka–Volterra_equation
    .
    So what Nulu seems to be for; The “do nothing” option about the Coyote population. The coyote numbers increase based on available food, all the little animals we have here now. You avoid the question about the foxes over at the golf course. You keep returning to my cats for some reason, but I fear for the whole lot of our animals.
    .
    “Did he forget that coyotes eat rats?”
    .
    Nope, I have not. I said, if you bother to read the comments here, we could end up with a mono-crop of predators, coyotes, and a mono-crop of prey, rodents. So Nulu seems also to implicitly to want to substitute 8 pound cats for 30 pound wild dogs to control the rodents here in our city…..? Technically speaking, aren’t the coyotes wild dogs that need shots and micro-chips too?
    .
    What I am for; DFW should trap and relocate or kill if we have to, to limit or regulate the new apex predator coming in, the coyotes. To prevent them from wiping out all the animals at or below the size of the coyotes. If we do it now, the numbers of coyotes will be smaller than the numbers we will have to deal with 3-5 years from now.
    .
    “Either Neal Chism is right and virtually all the scientists, experts and professionals are wrong.”
    .
    I guess running around and waving of my arms in an effort to train the wild coyotes to behave properly while they are here in the city, which is one recommendation from our government, seems rather silly. That is kind of the information that I expect to come from a reactive government these days.
    .
    Ok, I have stated my position on this matter in a public forum here on the blog. I have not heard from anyone at the DFW about this. But someone at any level of government can rebut my assumptions anytime. And I will listen intently if they do, because I hope I am wrong about my prediction of a possible future full of wild dogs and rats.
    .
    But what I will probably get back is Nulu’s tactic of going back and talking about song birds and cats again, at least for this week anyway. Or get some knee jerk reaction to the limiting the coyotes idea. Remember, all of us who live in this city are picking and choosing which animals we let in. Which is why we don’t see many indigenous cougars or bears walking up and down California Ave.. So the indigenous vs. non-indigenous argument has its limits too.
    .
    I will close now and re-paste the info Nulu provided from DFW;
    .
    “They eat any small animal they can capture,”
    .
    So see you at the next coyote sighting report here on the blog Nulu, which shouldn’t be too long from now. And FYI, the cat brought in another rat last night. So that is five rodents, zero birds since we have been chatting here.
    .

  • Neal Chism October 13, 2011 (10:47 am)

    One PS
    .
    “Neal is telling us that by allowing his kittens to be outdoors, they have become outdoor cats. And that it would be more cruel to keep them in for their own safety, than to let them out… What an incredible “Sophie’s Choice” he has engineered. That is the part that is “truly indefensible.”
    .
    So if Coyotes live longer in captivity Nulu, why aren’t you arguing for that option too, along with keeping my cats inside?
    .
    Wait, I know, then all of our the animals would be safely inside or prancing around in zoos.

  • Nulu October 13, 2011 (11:11 am)

    “Sophie’s Choice.”

    Nuff said, Neal?

    Besides why focus on me? How about that earlier post,
    ” Outdoor cats are a big pain anyway. This is nature’s way of dealing with them.
    Comment by bridge to somewhere — October 8, 11 12:07 pm #?

    Bridge’s comment is much worse than anything I have written.
    I assume you focus your wrath on me because I preach responsibility, which hits too close to home.

    I sincerely doubt that biologists at DWF, vets, cat rescue operations and the Humane Society will stoop to respond to such a wild prediction.

    Myself, I quite enjoy your unique irrational diatribes with a focus on me.

    Although, I am disappointed that you did not respond in kind by pledging to raise indoor cats if your predictions don’t bare out.

    I commend your cats for being such thoughtful prodigious predators, but you must live in the most rodent infested neighborhood outside of “Rat Island.” Have you ever contacted King County Vector Control? I am concerned for your neighbors.

    And, I do hope that your cats lead long healthy lives despite the “Sophie’s Choice” you have engineered on them.

  • Neal Chism October 13, 2011 (11:20 am)

    PPS
    .
    “That is against the law and to act against the law is defined as a crime and the one who commits the crime is a criminal.”
    .
    You only become a criminal after your convicted I think is how it works.
    So I am only the alleged “person who let’s their cat pee in your yard” right now.
    .
    Good to see your at least trying to studying something here.

  • Neal Chism October 13, 2011 (12:07 pm)

    “I am concerned for your neighbors.”
    .
    Oh Nulu, you don’t have to be concerned for my neighbors, my cats are probably violating the laws of the land and removing my neighbors rodents for them too, and free of charge! Why these rodents might just be coming from your yard.
    .
    “you must live in the most rodent infested neighborhood ”
    .
    And with that nugget of Nulu wisdom, Nulu has had to go back to old Nulu’s “homeowner guilt argument” that Nulu was making last summer on the blog still not realizing just how many rodents do exist in our cities. And, again thanks for insulting me implying that my area is worse off than your area. At least you didn’t say I kept an unclean home like you did last year, managing to insult both me and my wife, whom you don’t know. You do realize that all of this is archived and people can actually go back and read what it is you said?
    .
    So I will double dog dare you Nulu to check the King County Health Dept. restaurant inspection listings on line for your favorite eating places or your local grocery store. Here is the link. Then look for rat droppings in the reports.
    .
    http://info.kingcounty.gov/health/ehs/foodsafety/inspections/search.aspx
    .
    If you have not had a chance to do this, it might be a real eye opener. But it seems that Nulu just can not accept the fact that we have mice and rats all over the city. Oh, and don’t forget the possum my cat brought in. Are you going to argue that I have a possum infestation over here too?
    .
    ” Outdoor cats are a big pain anyway. ”
    This statement is a little vague.
    .
    “This is nature’s way of dealing with them.”
    As is this statement….
    .
    “Bridge’s comment is much worse than anything I have written.”
    .
    Not really, just a little vague.
    .
    “I assume you focus your wrath on me because I preach responsibility, which hits too close to home.”
    .
    No, I argue with you because you can’t seem to talk about the coyotes, and because during the conversation you manage to insult strangers. I don’t have much wrath in me, just concern for our creatures.
    .
    “I sincerely doubt that biologists at DWF, vets, cat rescue operations and the Humane Society will stoop to respond to such a wild prediction.”
    .
    “Wild prediction” Haaaa! Nulu has made a funny pun! And again another insult for me and how I am now making wild predictions. I guess I am making wildlife predictions…
    .
    “I preach responsibility”
    .
    You are preaching something here. But since you won’t talk about the coyotes which is what the story is about way up at the top of this page, you are in a bit of self denial. Wildlife management is a tough problem, but just ignore thinking about it, and maybe it will go away.
    .
    “I quite enjoy your unique irrational diatribes with a focus on me”
    .
    I don’t care that much about focusing on you. Your lack of thinking about this issue here that is just a bit disappointing. And chalk up one more insult at me on my “unique irrational diatribes” from Nulu. Thanks again.
    .
    I have responded to most of your comments, taken a few more direct insults, so now will you talk about coyotes? I thought not.

  • Nulu October 13, 2011 (2:40 pm)

    “This is a good reminder to pet lovers that it’s better for your pets to keep them inside. They get used to it. Yes many cats would love to go outside but as the human in the relationship we all make decisions for our pets that are in their own best interest. We spay and neuter them (hopefully!) we get them their yearly shots and checkups. We give them quality food and clean water. This is just another one of those decisions. Cats live longer as indoor creatures. They have a less likely chance to pick up diseases from other animals. They have less flea problems. They don’t kill the local songbirds. They won’t get hit by cars or eaten by coyotes and won’t disappear. They will live long and happy lives with the humans they love. Just something to think about.
    Comment by Jennifer — October 7, 11 7:25 am #”

    The above comment makes the same points about COYOTES and all the rational reasons for responsible pet ownership.

    This string was started when WSB posted Marty’s email about COYOTES and finishes with cats, “Again, the coyote was sitting in the driveway, seemingly unaffected by the human/vehicle presence. Pretty brave. I hope they find the cat.”

    So, this string is about COYOTES and CATS left to fend for themselves outdoors. That is the thread I have followed.

    Neal is the one who has turned this into a unique prediction on cats, coyotes and rodents.

    And how did the rats get into the discussion? There is no mention of rats in the original story, yet now Neal is writing about 1930’s epidemics, Rat Island, and now Seattle area restaurants with rats. No mention of COYOTES!

    Apparently Neal does not have enough confidence in his predictions of COYOTE/Rodent invasion to match my pledge, as he makes no mention of it.

    And he might be advised to stick to his field of figures as his claim that one cannot be a criminal without being convicted is as unique as his COYOTE claims. By his definition, a person could assault, rob or murder and not be a criminal if they are not caught prosecuted and convicted!
    Sorry Neal, you are speaking about that subgroup of criminals called “convicted criminals.”

    Claiming vagueness about someone writing that if you let your cats outside and COYOTES get them, it serves you right as it is natures way?

    What is vague about, “outdoor cats are a big pain?” Please go to the top of this post for Jennifer’s comment on some the pains caused by outdoor cats.

    And the “this is natures way of dealing…” means that the COYOTES kill the cats, not to vague.

    Finally why do you assiduously avoid discussion of the “Sophie’s Choice” that you have brought upon yourself?

    Why is it more humane to let your cats outside where you accept that they will be killed by COYOTES in the next few months rather than keep them inside where they are free from COYOTES and other predators?

    Sorry once again, I do write about COYOTES and cats and that is consistent with this article.

  • Neal Chism October 14, 2011 (2:09 pm)

    I am for a safer and healthier city.
    ,
    You are for wild dogs in the streets and more rodents.
    .
    Pretty straightforward which sides we are on.
    .
    And do you actually read all of the words in the phrases that you paste and clip? “the coyote was sitting in the driveway, seemingly unaffected by the human/vehicle presence”.
    .
    Imagine how great it will be when the coyotes get really hungry.

  • Neal Chism October 14, 2011 (2:25 pm)

    And I won’t address Nulu’s “Sophies Choice” for Neal;
    .
    Neal keeping a cat inside, bad, vs. Neal letting the cat go out side and with increased risks, bad.
    .
    Because Nulu refuses to discuss Neal’s “Sophies Choice” for Nulu;
    .
    Get rid of the coyotes, a bad choice, vs. keep the coyotes and let the coyotes eat all the little animals, a really bad choice.
    .

  • Neal Chism October 14, 2011 (2:28 pm)

    My cats going outside is a legal activity.
    .
    By your same argument, if you support coyotes in the city of West Seattle, then you support wild dogs here which are illegal, which makes you a criminal Nulu. Doesn’t it?
    .
    I am using your logic on the legal system.
    .

  • Neal Chism October 14, 2011 (2:40 pm)

    I directly responded to your question Nulu.
    .
    “Bridge’s comment is much worse than anything I have written.”
    ” Outdoor cats are a big pain anyway. This is nature’s way of dealing with them.
    Comment by bridge to somewhere — October 8, 11 12:07 pm #?
    .
    You seemed like you wanted me to consider the comment by Bridge to Somewhere. As you mentioned the persons name specifically. Now you cleverly enlarge your pithy argument here to take in the whole string….
    .
    What is vague about, “outdoor cats are a big pain?” Please go to the top of this post for Jennifer’s comment on some the pains caused by outdoor cats.
    .
    I am spellbound by the logic that goes on in your brain.
    But what is vague about the statement is how you can read it.
    .
    Since I am a cat owner, which you seem not to be, I think cats are a pain to take care of. Vet bills, shots, comb-outs.
    .
    And the second part was vague too; could mean that B-to-S really is a cat hater, or is B-to-S is religious and just wants to let God sort the issue out. I don’t know B-to-S, so I was not going to assume either way. But you did.
    .
    Keep them coming.

  • Neal Chism October 14, 2011 (2:56 pm)

    Is this the pledge I didn’t respond to, but really did, or did you have another one in here somewhere that I missed? The pledge below as you have me signed up for, and as you wrote it, means I really don’t have to do much other than wait and let you tell me how wrong I was…
    .
    .
    .
    “Apparently Neal does not have enough confidence in his predictions of COYOTE/Rodent invasion to match my pledge, as he makes no mention of it.”
    .
    If Neal’s predictions prove correct, I pledge to buy him and his cats 50 lbs. of his choice of cat food or contribute $50 to his choice of cat shelters or spaying services.
    Comment by Nulu — October 12, 11 10:02 pm #
    .
    Neals reply…
    .
    “You don’t have to pledge to buy me anything Nulu. Thanks for the offer. And you can contribute to an animal shelter anytime.”
    .

  • Neal Chism October 14, 2011 (3:19 pm)

    “Neal is the one who has turned this into a unique prediction on cats, coyotes and rodents.”
    .
    Yup. That is because I actually spent some time thinking about a serious complicated problem and what might very well happen in the near future. Then I put my prediction out in public knowing full well that someone (many) will hate the fact that we just might have to remove or kill some coyotes to save a lot of other animals.
    .
    Instead, someone like Nulu comes along and tells me I am a bad pet owner, and keeping my cat(s) inside will solve the “too many coyotes here in West Seattle soon” problem.
    .
    Get Neal to keep his cats inside and all will be well and the animals left outside here will just get along like in all those Walt Disney happy animal cartoons Nulu must be watching.
    .
    Let me shame Neal into admitting that he is a bad cat owner and all will be well.
    .
    Way to address the coyote problem Nulu!
    .
    Oh wait, that’s right, you criminally support having indigenous wild dogs here. You taught me that too remember, (Canis latrans) from the DFW website. But you really have not come out and said that either; Nulu thinks it is just ok to have wild coyotes here in the streets of West Seattle. You won’t do that because, however small the possibility is, a mean old coyote just may take a nip at at someone. Then Nulu would feel bad.
    .
    .

  • Nulu October 14, 2011 (3:20 pm)

    I am for a safer and healthier city and the scientists and professionals responsible for making our city safer and healthier ALL say that letting cats outdoors does neither.

    I am not for wild dogs in the streets and more rodents, while I am for responsible pet ownership and abiding by laws that protect us all.

    I only wish Neal Chism could honestly make the same claim.

    Apparently Neal has finally read the original story and now realizes (but will not admit it) that this was about cats as well as coyotes.

    No response by Mr. Chism on how the rats got into it.

    No response on the predicament Neal Chism has created for himself.

    Once again, Neal. Why is it more humane to let your cats outside where you accept that they will be killed by COYOTES in the next few months rather than keep them inside where they are free from COYOTES and other predators?

    No comment on Neal’s unique definition of “criminal.”

    No response to my offer of him becoming what society defines as a responsible cat owner if his computations and unique prediction of Coyote and Rat Armageddon does not occur within the next 3 to 5 years.

    If Neal will make the pledge, I promise to raise my end of it to $100 for cat food and or spaying services, fully realizing that I can make these donations to Neal or the neutering outfits myself without any wager. The wager just makes it more interesting and adds some accountability to whoever is wrong.

    An engineer like my father had supreme confidence in his calculations and would have taken my challenge with pleasure, but he was a structural engineer.

    I have no idea what kind of “engineer” Neal professes to be, but he reminds me of an old Boeing joke my father liked to tell…
    “Last week I couldn’t spell “engineer,” now I are one,” said the schools “custodial engineer.”

  • Neal Chism October 14, 2011 (3:43 pm)

    And by the way… All this great info you cut and pasted for us all earlier, where exactly does it talk about cats and songbirds? The first paragraph talks about coyotes. The second paragraph talks about coyotes. And the third talks about what kills our pet dogs and cats… Please explain your conclusion here for us all if you would.
    .
    _____
    Nulu’s statement on the DFW information Nulu supplied below.

    “This DWF information contradicts Mr. Chism’s (above) imaginative and unique treatise on how outdoor cats are saving songbirds..
    ____
    .
    From the Washington State DWF website,
    “In pioneer days, coyotes (Canis latrans) were restricted primarily to the sagebrush lands, brushy mountains, and open prairies of the American West. Wolves occupied the forests. Coyotes have since taken advantage of human activities (including the reduction of gray wolf populations) to expand their range throughout North and Central America.”

    Also from DWF,
    “Coyotes are opportunists, both as hunters and as scavengers. They eat any small animal they can capture, including mice, rats, gophers, mountain beavers, rabbits, and squirrels, also snakes, lizards, frogs, fish, birds, and carrion (animal carcasses). Grass, fruits, and berries are eaten during summer and fall.”

    And finally, with some amusement, from DWF website,
    “Note: The list of killers of domestic cats and dogs includes other dogs and cats, vehicles, bears, cougars, bobcats, foxes, disease, and furious neighbors.”

    __________

    .
    .
    .
    .
    Other than the fact that coyotes eat birds too, I don’t see how you got to that conclusion because birds and cats are not mentioned in the same paragraph, and that seems a little odd.
    .
    I am beginning to slightly suspect that you just love to cut and paste, and really might not be actually reading the content.
    .
    If that is the case, boy would I feel silly.
    .

  • Neal Chism October 14, 2011 (4:12 pm)

    And one more “oh by the way” for you Nulu;
    _______
    What an incredible “Sophie’s Choice” he has engineered. That is the part that is “truly indefensible.”

    I just hope nobody applies his logic to children!
    _______
    .
    If people didn’t apply my logic to their children, then they would be keep their children locked up inside because it is safer for them, and the kids would live longer and healthier lives.
    .
    So I am pretty happy that parents make the hard choice, use my logic, and let their kids go outside to play where it is more risky; swing sets, cars, dogs, tabby cats, etc..
    .
    .
    You might want to work on your logic statements, along with your legal and mathematical statistics studies. You do have the cut and paste down pretty well however.

  • Neal Chism October 14, 2011 (4:20 pm)

    And for you history buffs out there in West Seattle Blog land who have made it this far in the Nulu v. Neal saga;
    .
    I watched a great show last night.
    .
    ______
    National Geographic: Jamestown
    National Geographic: Beyond the Movie: The New World: Nightmare in Jamestown (2005) NR
    National Geographic examines forensic and archeological evidence to chronicle the story of America’s first colony in Jamestown, Va., which faced famine, cannibalism and pestilence. And thanks to historically accurate re-creations, it seems as if 1607 was only yesterday.
    _____

    In the second or third year of the settlement, they ran out of food, so they ate the dogs. Then they ate the cats. Then guess what happened. Most of them got the plague….

  • Neal Chism October 14, 2011 (5:46 pm)

    I Forgot one, Sorry all.

    _____________
    Per Nulu;

    “This is a good reminder to pet lovers that it’s better for your pets to keep them inside. They get used to it. Yes many cats would love to go outside but as the human in the relationship we all make decisions for our pets that are in their own best interest. We spay and neuter them (hopefully!) we get them their yearly shots and checkups. We give them quality food and clean water. This is just another one of those decisions. Cats live longer as indoor creatures. They have a less likely chance to pick up diseases from other animals. They have less flea problems. They don’t kill the local songbirds. They won’t get hit by cars or eaten by coyotes and won’t disappear. They will live long and happy lives with the humans they love. Just something to think about.
    Comment by Jennifer — October 7, 11 7:25 am #”
    .
    “The above comment makes the same points about COYOTES and all the rational reasons for responsible pet ownership.”-
    ______________

    So is Nulu really saying??????

    This is a good reminder to Coyote lovers that it’s better for your Coyotes to keep them inside. They get used to it. Yes many Coyotes would love to go outside but as the human in the relationship we all make decisions for our Coyotes that are in their own best interest. We spay and neuter them (hopefully!) we get them their yearly shots and checkups. We give them quality food and clean water. This is just another one of those decisions. Coyotes live longer as indoor creatures. They have a less likely chance to pick up diseases from other animals. They have less flea problems. They don’t kill the local songbirds. They won’t get hit by cars or eaten by (other) coyotes and won’t disappear. They will live long and happy lives with the humans they love. Just something to think about.
    .
    .
    __________
    .
    I guess Nulu didn’t really mean exactly the same points about COYOTES…..
    .
    It must be that the cut and paste thing is SOOOOOO easy to do!

  • Nulu October 14, 2011 (8:21 pm)

    I just hope nobody applies Neal Chism’s logic to children, meaning that if a parent allowed toddlers outside their yard without supervision (as Neal insists with his kittens) playing in the street and they survived the first few times, then it would be too cruel to keep the toddlers out of the street because they have come to expect it even though the parent expects the toddler to be hit by a car in the next few months.

    Incredible logic.

    “I guess running around and waving of my arms in an effort to train the wild coyotes to behave properly while they are here in the city, which is one recommendation from our government, seems rather silly. That is kind of the information that I expect to come from a reactive government these days.” Neal Chism

    Wrong Neal. The “reactive government” does not expect people “to train the wild coyotes to behave properly while they are here in the city.”
    The government wants people not to allow coyotes to become overly familiar with humans. In that respect they ask people who encounter coyotes to not feed them and try to scare them off.
    This is another of Neal’s tortured illogical interpretations/extrapolations.

    It holds up as well as Neal equaling of domesticated animals i.e. dogs and cats to wild animals such as coyotes.

    “My cats going outside is a legal activity.

    First I thought we could agree that the laws allow you to have your cat outside (without a leash) as long as it is on your own property.
    It is not legal for you to allow your cats to roam onto other peoples property where besides peeing (your only example) they defecate, dig up peoples’ gardens, harm trees by scratching bark, fight with other cats (feral or domestic) and kill or maim other wildlife (not just rats) that the landowners do not want harmed. Because cats do all of these destructive activities on others private property, this is not legal. The same goes for dogs or any other domesticated and legal pets.
    On the same thread, it is legal to let a dog outside, just like your cats.
    But if someone allowed their dog to leave their property and enter your property to attack your cat, how would you feel?
    Would that be responsible pet ownership?

    “By your same argument, if you support coyotes in the city of West Seattle, then you support wild dogs here which are illegal, which makes you a criminal Nulu. Doesn’t it?
    I am using your logic on the legal system.” – More Nealisms

    I don’t support coyotes in the city, but coyotes are not wild dogs(which I don’t support either).
    But if I did that would not be illegal or a crime.
    It is only when I acquire a coyote or wild dog and then release it into a neighbor’s yard that I do something illegal. That would be crime and that action would make me a criminal.

    But as I have always written, I support responsible lawful pet ownership.
    That is where Neal Chism and I disagree.

    And those are my final words on this, at least for three to five years!

  • Neal Chism October 15, 2011 (9:20 am)

    6 Rodents, 0 Birds

  • Neal Chism October 15, 2011 (3:50 pm)

    Nulu; “I don’t support coyotes in the city”
    .
    At least you finally came out and took a stand on the coyotes.
    .
    Thanks and congratulations.
    .
    ___________________________________________
    .
    Nulu; “coyotes are not wild dogs”
    .
    Neal will now cut and paste Nulu style. From wikipedia…

    “Canis latrans), also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine ”
    .
    Canis latrans, means “barking dog”
    .
    ___________
    .
    Nulu; “outside their yard without supervision (as Neal insists with his kittens)”
    .
    I don’t let my cats go out while they are kittens and I didn’t insist. I told you my cats are adults now…. Again try reading the comments Nulu…
    .
    And your logic as you stated it the first time was backwards. Like many of your other comments so far. So if you statement the first time was not what you really meant to say then how are we suppose to know what you really are trying to say?
    .
    ___________

    Nulu; “The government wants people not to allow coyotes to become overly familiar with humans.”
    .
    So Nulu, if we both don’t support coyotes in the city, then why do I have to try to behavior modify animals that are not suppose to be here anyway?
    .
    Nulu;” Wrong Neal. The “reactive government” does not expect people “to train the wild coyotes to behave properly while they are here in the city.” “they ask people who encounter coyotes to… try to scare them off.”
    .
    So the government is suggesting that all of us try to scare them off so the coyotes will fear people each time they meet people, how is this not like we are training the coyotes again? Explain this to us all. Please…..

    _______
    Nulu; “It holds up as well as Neal equaling of domesticated animals i.e. dogs and cats to wild animals such as coyotes.”
    .
    Exactly when did I do that Nulu. i have been trying to convince you that we have domesticated dogs and cats here in a city for a reason, and the coyotes are completely counter to that. Geez…. Just make stuff up and people might buy it right.
    .
    ________
    .
    Nulu; “they defecate, dig up peoples’ gardens, harm trees by scratching bark, fight with other cats (feral or domestic) and kill or maim other wildlife ”
    .
    Cats do all that huh?
    .
    .
    Nulu; “But if someone allowed their dog to leave their property and enter your property to attack your cat, how would you feel?”
    .
    I’m pretty ok with that. My cats are pretty fast. I just don’t what them eaten by coyotes so much. Which we both agree are not suppose to be here. I also don’t want the coyotes eating all the other animals either. Which was my whole point here in the last 40 or 50 comments.
    .
    Nulu; “Would that be responsible pet ownership?”
    .
    Neal; Shit happens Nulu, and I sure wouldn’t start preaching to the dog owner like you preaching at me, even if the pet dog ate my cat. I would say that it was an accident, sort of like you running over that cat you hit with your car.
    .
    By the way, my yard is a backyard habitat and I let all the animals go through. Had a collared dog go thru last week and we tried to catch it and sent it back home, but it ran right on out the alley and kept going. And I took a stand and I said that coyotes are eating our pets and this is unacceptable. DFW get the coyotes out of here.
    .
    So I will see you in 3-5 years and if your right all will be well.
    .
    By the way, I saw today that a coyote had ripped apart a raccoon on the banks of the Duwamish. So the tally now is that coyotes are going after; squirrels, foxes, cats, and raccoons now. Doesn’t leave many little animals left does it? And you seeing me in 3-5 years implies that you will do nothing about the coyotes here, means that you will stand back and let them eat all of our animals.
    .
    What does that make you again?
    .
    Or will you now pledge to send a letter to DFW and complain about the coyotes?

  • Neal Chism October 15, 2011 (5:04 pm)

    Sorry Nulu, did not see one of your replies.
    .
    _______________
    Nulu; “No response by Mr. Chism on how the rats got into it.”
    .
    Neals statement from Oct 10, this very comment string…..
    .
    “There won’t be any many little animals left outside because the numbers of coyotes will increase exponentially until there is no more food left, except probably for the rodents, rodents breed faster than most other animals.”
    .
    Neals Response; “Nulu try reading the comments.”
    .
    _________________

    Nulu;” No response on the predicament Neal Chism has created for himself.”
    .
    Neals Response; My predicament is that I can’t get certain people to understand about the problem of the coyotes coming in. But you finally did and now you have taken a stand. What a miracle. Then you go on to say you are going to ignore the issue for 3-5 years, so I guess I am back to square one.
    .
    _________________

    “Once again, Neal. Why is it more humane to let your cats outside where you accept that they will be killed by COYOTES in the next few months rather than keep them inside where they are free from COYOTES and other predators?”

    That is easy Nulu, if you had been reading the material. It is not as humane, but we need the cats out there to eat the rats. Have you missed that too? And I accept the fact that they may be eaten by coyotes because I can’t get you to understand what it is, and why it is that we want cats out side eating rats every night instead of the coyotes. Not that hard, really it is not that hard to understand….. Now that you have come out against the coyotes, I have to convince you of several thousand years of history of dogs and cats in the cities too?
    .
    ________________

    Nulu;”No comment on Neal’s unique definition of “criminal.”
    .
    So if I murder someone why wouldn’t they just put me in jail instead of going through all the expense of having a trial. I think the old saying here is that “your innocent until proven guilty”.
    You now have made up this “innocent criminals” definition. You might want to watch a little less Nancy Grace in the afternoon.
    .
    ___________________

    Nulu; “No response to my offer of him becoming what society defines as a responsible cat owner if his computations and unique prediction of Coyote and Rat Armageddon does not occur within the next 3 to 5 years.”
    .
    Think I will just stay an irresponsible cat owner, thanks, as you seem to want to stay an irresponsible resident of the city with regard to the coyotes and keep on ignoring the issue.
    .
    __________________

    Nulu; “If Neal will make the pledge, I promise to raise my end of it to $100 for cat food and or spaying services, fully realizing that I can make these donations to Neal or the neutering outfits myself without any wager. The wager just makes it more interesting and adds some accountability to whoever is wrong.”

    I don’t need to pledge anything if I choose to be an irresponsible cat owner right?
    .
    I think there is enough accountability on my side since I have stated my case in public. You on the other hand don’t even want to think about what happens if I am right here… So you can stay an anonymous person on a free web blog and say anything you like, and no one will care. Which is probably for the best.
    .
    .
    ___________
    .
    Nulu; “An engineer like my father had supreme confidence in his calculations and would have taken my challenge with pleasure, but he was a structural engineer.”

    I am guessing here Nulu, since I have worked in and around Boeing for a few years, that while your father may have been the greatest engineer with all the confidence (and good for him) in the world, he probably did not get his drawings released by just with his own signature on the drawing. So while he trusted himself, ol’ dad’s work got checked many times over before it ever left the ground.
    .
    ___________
    .
    Nulu;” I have no idea what kind of “engineer” Neal professes to be”
    .
    This sounds like a personal problem on your side. Sorry. (But it does not stop you from insulting a stranger anyway does it?)
    .
    .
    Nulu; “but he reminds me of an old Boeing joke my father liked to tell… “Last week I couldn’t spell “engineer,” now I are one,” said the schools “custodial engineer.”
    .
    Looks like you finally were able to get something typed in to a computer that actually correctly reflects a very old joke. Way to go! You seem to remember old jokes, maybe you should try some other areas of history as well. Just a suggestion.
    .
    ________

  • Neal Chism October 15, 2011 (5:28 pm)

    Oct 12 comment by Nulu…..
    .
    Nulu; “Finally, I have great respect for engineers. I was raised by a lifetime Boeing Structural Engineer. And I respect Neal for the profession he is in.”
    .
    It is hard to tell sometimes Nulu..
    .

  • Neal Chism October 17, 2011 (3:27 pm)

    I told Nulu that I would see Nulu over at the next coyote sighting which was today, 10/17/11.
    .
    Nine days later we have a report of a pack of 3-4 now moving about.
    .
    So I am over at the next sighting report. Thanks
    .
    _____
    Neal’s irresponsible pet cat owner report;
    For 10/10/11-10/17/11
    7 rodents
    2 birds, starlings
    0 song birds
    1 possum, returned to the wild uninjured.

Sorry, comment time is over.